Courtney George, 17, from Shepley, saw off the challenge of hundreds of hopefuls before being crowned Young Dancer of the Year.

She took the title at the big dance contest, held as part of The Clothes Show at Birmingham’s NEC.

“I’m so excited, its an amazing opportunity for me”, said Courtney, a student at Shelley College.

The teenager, whose ultimate dream is to perform in the West End, won an exclusive contract with top dance agency Dancers Inc and a year of membership to Spotlight dancers’ directory.

She said: “I am going to dance college next September, so its hopefully the start of a long career in dance.”

The Young Dancer of the Year award, which has been running since 2000, aims to reward young skill, technique and talent and provide a platform for dancers with potential to launch their careers in dance.

Courtney who has been dancing for 10 years, is currently studying for her A-levels at Shelley College.

Tobais Mead, a Britain’s Got Talent finalist and one of the panel judges, said: “Courtney had the strongest dance technique and the best music technique.

“She was the most hungry to dance and the most hungry to perform.”

World-renowned choreographers David Wood and Jay Ravell joined Pippa Harrison and Chris Manoe as part of the judging panel which had the task of whittling down the many hundreds of entrants.

Jay Ravell said, “Courtney was the most talented natural dancer and I am a bigger believer of supporting dance.”

Courtney who is also a pupil at Georgie School Theatre of Arts, in Shelley, danced with her then partner Conner McLeod at the Royal Albert Hall earlier in the year.

They performed there alongside Strictly Come Dancing stars Darren Bennett and Lilia Kopylova.

The teenagers, who were a step above those who auditioned, won a place to perform at the London festival with their modern dance performance to Bruno Mars’ Just The Way You Are.